Ranking All 4A State Meet Records by Breakability

Maria Coffin set a new 4A state meet record in the 1600 with her thrilling 2017 come-from-behind victory. Does this year's field have what it takes to run even faster? (Photo by Brandon Miles)

Examining and acknowledging state meet records helps put excellent performances into context. We preview every meet record at the 1A state meet and how likely it is to fall based on the performances from the season to date. Most of the leaders in the events will qualify for the state meet from regionals.


The Key

0 stars - This one might stand for awhile.

1 star - Looks safe for this year.

2 stars - Someone might have an outside shot.

3 stars - There's a decent chance someone challenges it.

4 stars - At least one person has a good shot.

5 stars - It would almost be surprising if it *wasn't* broken.


55 dash

Boys: 6.21 (Justin Murdock, Glen Burnie, 2007) - 0 stars

Paint Branch senior Alonzo McBryde is one of just two boys in the state to have run under 6.40 seconds this year, but he's still a long way off from Murdock's record.

Girls: 6.92 (Aurieyall Scott, Eleanor Roosevelt, 2010) - 0 stars

Since Scott's meet-record performance in 2010, only one girl in Maryland (Westlake's Kiara Parker) has run faster at any meet in the 55 meter dash.


300 dash

Boys: 34.35 (Afolabi Aromire, C.H. Flowers, 2005) - 3 stars

Could Brandon Nya cap off his breakout senior season with a state meet record in the 300? He has run under 35 seconds twice at the Sportsplex this year, as well as a 33.75 personal best on the banked track at the Virginia Showcase.

Girls: 38.83 (Aurieyall Scott, Eleanor Roosevelt, 2010) - 0 stars

Only Richard Montgomery's Caia Gelli has come within a second of Scott's record, and that was on a banked track at Liberty University.


500 dash

Boys: 1:03.52 (Afolabi Aromire, C.H. Flowers, 2005) - 2 stars

Seydi Sall leads a strong field that also features 300 favorite Brandon Nya. With the right conditions, a sub-1:04 winning time could be possible.

Girls: 1:13.62 (Tasha Stanley, Eleanor Roosevelt, 2008) - 1 star

The star power is definitely present in this year's girls 500 field, but none of the runners have gone under 1:16 heading into the state meet.


800 run

Boys: 1:55.98 (Wayne Bartholomew, Quince Orchard, 2009) - 0 stars

2018 indoor runner-up and 2019 outdoor third-place finisher Garrett Suhr did not run at regionals, and defending indoor state champion Tanner Piotrowski (along with South River's Sam Keeny) will be coming off the 3200. There's far from a clear favorite, but it's highly unlikely the winner challenges Bartholomew's record.

Girls: 2:14.50 (Kristen Nicolini, Annapolis, 1995) - 1 star

Both Flowers' Javon Watts and South River's Bronwyn Patterson have run under 2:20 so far this year, but Nicolini's overall state meet record has now stood for 25 years and will likely remain after next Tuesday's meet.


1600 run

Boys: 4:14.61 (Vincent Ciattei, Perry Hall, 2013) - 0 stars

Neither of the two fastest 4A runners this year (Sam Keeny and Garrett Suhr) will be in this year's field, making it very unlikely anyone will run close to Ciattei's time.

Girls: 4:58.99 (Maria Coffin, Annapolis, 2017) - 2 stars

Neither of them have run quite as fast so far this indoor season, but both Bronwyn Patterson (5:01.32) and Walter Johnson's Ella Gaul (5:06.06) have come fairly close in the past to five flat. The field also includes distance standouts Charlotte Turesson and Jenna Goldberg; perhaps there is enough star power in this field to coax out a sub-five mile?


3200 run

Boys: 9:16.00 (Ryan Forsyth, Severna Park, 2014) - 2 stars

Sam Keeny owns a 9:13 personal best in the 3200, and Springbrook's Surafel Mengist leads the state in the 3200 this winter at 9:21.07. If either of them have the record in their sights, it could make for a great race.

Girls: 10:30.70 (Christy Nichols, Arundel, 1996) - 0 stars

The 0 star ranking understates how exciting this race could be, as neither Charlotte Turesson nor Jenna Goldberg have ever been afraid to push the pace. 10:30, however, would probably be a stretch.


55 hurdles

Boys: 7.27 (Shyheim Wright, Northwest, 2015) - 0 stars

Dulaney's Abdul Henley leads all of 4A at 7.70 seconds this year.

Girls: 8.05 (Tiffany Nesfield, C.H. Flowers, 2004) - 2 stars

Defending state champion Kaya Rae Dunbar owns an 8.09 personal best in the 55 meter hurdles and ran 8.14 at last year's indoor state meet.


4x200 relay

Boys: 1:29.67 (Suitland, 2004) - 4 stars

The Paint Branch boys have already run faster than the current 4x200 record at the Sportsplex this year (1:29.55), and they should have plenty of competition alongside the current state leaders from Bowie (1:28.81 at the Virginia Showcase).

Girls: 1:40.79 (Eleanor Roosevelt, 2002) - 0 stars

The Raiders are the current 4A leaders in the 4x200, but they will be hard-pressed to challenge their own record from 18 years ago.


4x400 relay

Boys: 3:24.11 (Laurel, 2012) - 0 stars

It was one of the greatest state meet races in Maryland history, as Laurel (3:24.11) edged Wise (3:24.23). It could be a long time before anyone even breaks Wise's mark.

Girls: 3:52.18 (Eleanor Roosevelt, 2007) - 0 stars

In 2018 the Franklin girls took over the top overall 4x400 mark at the state meet, but Roosevelt still has a stranglehold on the 4A record.


4x800 relay

Boys: 7:59.73 (Eleanor Roosevelt, 2005) - 2 stars

Without Garrett Suhr, the Richard Montgomery boys still won the 4A West regional but may not have the same 7:55 upside they showed at the Virginia Showcase. Still, both Northwood and Severna Park have also run 8:06 or faster.

Girls: 9:13.49 (Eleanor Roosevelt, 2006) - 0 stars

Speaking of strangeholds.


Shot Put

Boys: 60'11.50 (George Saah, Montgomery Blair, 1979) - 0 stars

It''s been over 40 years since Saah set the 4A record, and it doesn't seem likely to be broken this year.

Girls: 47'10.25 (Emily Vannoy, Gov. Thomas Johnson, 2009) - 0 stars

No 4A girl has eclipsed 40 feet in the shot put this winter.


High Jump

Boys: 6'9 (Rob Smith, Westminster, 1980/Aaron Johnson, Oxon Hill, 2006) - 0 stars

Three boys are tied for the 4A lead at 6'4, but it would take an incredible performance to tie the 4A record.

Girls: 5'8 (Vanessa Jones, Sherwood, 1997/Audrey Gariepy-Bogui, Winston Churchill, 2007) - 2 stars

Wheaton's Madison Depry has yet to lose a high jump competition this year and cleared 5'8 last spring. She could not only bring home her first high jump state title, but also challenge the 4A state meet record.


Pole Vault

Boys: 15'1.50 (Erick Artusio, Gov. Thomas Johnson, 2010) - 3 stars

South River's Corey Troxler has cleared 14 feet on four occasions this season, including a 14'9 personal best back in mid-January.

Girls: 11'0 (Megan Wall, Dulaney, 2011/Sarah Taylor, Chesapeake-AA, 2013/Gwen Zeckowski, South River, 2017) - 0 stars

Severna Park's Sarah Adams looked like the state title favorite, but didn't qualify out of regionals, making it seem like the three-way tie for the 4A state meet record will stand another year.